Donna and I had such a fun time shooting newlyweds Landon and Kaitlan at the super chic BLT Steak located at The Ritz-Carlton in uptown Charlotte. I was introduced to Landon and Kaitlan by friend and local custom men's clothier, David Watkins, of Abbeydale. When I decided I wanted to start featuring more men's clothing, I immediately phoned David and said 'I need you and your fantastic threads on the Queen City Style'. David was not available on the day of the shoot but friend and customer Landon Cassill and his custom suiting was. I love meeting new people, and this was another example of how much fun I get to have playing dress up on the Queen City Style! Check out David in the March issue of Southern Living Magazine.

I hope you and those important in your life had a wonderful Easter holiday.

I don't know about any of you, but when I was in school if anything was going to be the death of me it was Trigonometry class in Phillips Hall. The overpriced tutor who barely spoke human did nothing to improve my understanding of whatever language it was he was speaking. I guess some things just aren't meant to be. Bourbon from a coffee cup and a day of fun shooting Chapel Hill with an old friend, however, totally is. (Pardon the silly grin and sleepy eyes). Check out Roy's photography here.

I don't take advantage of the arts available to our community nearly as much as I should. I believe the last time I visited The Mint Museum was for the Chanel exhibit. Not a chance I would miss that, but in addition to the first rate fashions on display, there is so much more for you to drink in on any visit to The Mint Museum. Thanks to a reader, I was informed about the And the Bead Goes On exhibit currently on display. I immediately phoned Donna, so we could hustle on over to The Mint, where I found the occasion to be the absolute perfect, yet long awaited one for wearing this vintage dress I inherited from a family member. My first instinct was that it is an old debutante dress, but unfortunately, I have not been able to verify who it belonged to or where it was worn. Alas, all good things come to those who wait proves true in the case of this dress, but do not delay on viewing the exquisite garments in And The Bead Goes On, for it ends March 31st. I've pictured a few of my personal favorites from the exhibit, including this short black Lanvin runway dress purchased via the museum's Auxiliary Costume Fund, as well as three dresses designed by a local high school student; impressively fitting to say the least.

Thursday, March 21, 2013

Greetings from Charleston Fashion Week in a chilly but sunny Charleston, SC! Oh, how I love the Holy City no matter what the weather! I want to thank Belk for the lovely invitation to be their guest here at my first trip to Charleston Fashion Week. I must say, aside of New York Fashion Week, this is the Fashion Week not to miss. Perfect for the Lilly Pulitzer show, I found this colorful 1960's vintage Lilly Pulitzer dress on Etsy at Angel's Vintage Boutique. The store owner shipped it straight to Charleston for me!

Yesterday's event, the MUSC Fashion Week Luncheon, was particularly moving. A delicious lunch was served just prior to two fashion shows; one presented by local boutique, Pearl, followed by the Lilly show sponsored by Belk. A live auction was held with some amazing prizes, and as a result, thousands of dollars were raised for the Medical University of South Carolina's Children's Hospital. This really was a first class event.

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I captured some really great moments on the runway, but what do you know, I forgot to bring my memory card reader. So for now, a few iPhone pics will have to serve as a glimpse of the fantastic fashions I look forward to sharing with you.

The littlest cancer survivors!! Such a miraculous morning!

Arlene Goldstein, Vice President of Trend Merchandising and Fashion Direction, and the Belk team!

Starbucks coffee break with Arlene calls for a selfie!﻿

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Next up, a visit to the King St. Belk pop up shop featuring Cynthia Rowley's new line exclusive to Belk...

I hopped on over to super posh boutique on the rise, Hampden Clothing, for some client shopping. I know this picture does no justice, but this Helmet Lang number is THE little black dress.

It's important that I try everything on for the sake of quality control :)...

I finished off the day with a tasty cold cocktail at Mex 1 with one of my oldest besties, my real favorite reason to visit Charleston.﻿

So, I am excited beyond excited that today, thanks to my friends at Belk, I have been given the opportunity to interview Cynthia Rowley. As a teenager, she was my earliest favorite designer. My junior year prom dress was one of her designs I saved for a long time to purchase. I'll be wearing the below dress for the interview. This one I purchased when I was 19. Please wish me luck!

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Last, but certainly not least, the winner of two tickets to Runway For the Ballet presented by North Carolina Dance Theatre...

A photo ofthese shoes from Ann Roth Shoes solicited the single most number of thumbs up on the Queen City Style Facebookpageto date. While on my daily run one afternoon, (when I do pretty much all of my uninterrupted thinking), I wanted to figure out a fun and creative way to show off these bad boys. This song had me thinking. (Think nothing of the video, but if you want a fun song to add to your running mix, give it a listen). Then it came to me, how fun would it be to work my new friends, dynamic mother and daughter team, Liz and Clary, over at Hilliard Method Studio? Let me just tell you, holding these poses is a work out like no other. There's a reason these ladies look as fantastic as they do. They are mean machines between Bon Bon popping. We are all worthy of indulging as a way to reward ourselves. I find Fitzgerald to be quite gratifying. He's all the more fantastic at 20% Off just for readers of the Queen City Style. Enter Code: QUEEN at check out.

Enjoy! xo-Whitley

North Carolina Dance Theatre is giving away a pair of tickets to one lucky reader of the Queen City Style for this Saturday night's Runway for the Ballet. Enter here!

Sunday, March 17, 2013

I am so excited to attend Runway for the Ballet for the very first time. Dancing + Fashion = Quite possibly the most stylish home run ever. North Carolina Dance Theatre is giving away a pair of tickets to one lucky reader of the Queen City Style to their 8pm evening show this Saturday night, March 23. The unique show is an exciting blend of fashion and dance, highlighting upcoming 2013 fashions from presenting sponsor Macy's, interspersed with vignettes from Dance Theatre's popular shows. Dancers from Dance Theatre will serve as models for the fashion show. This Giveaway is for readers of the Queen City Style.

To enter, all you have to do is follow the Queen City Style via Email, Bloglovin' or GFC.

Please tell me in ONE comment the ways you have entered. The winner will be announced Thursday, March 21. Good luck! I'm off to Charleston, SC for Charleston Fashion Week, and I can't wait to share it all with you when I return.